Sir Lloyd Geering: key obituary facts
Is Sir Lloyd Geering dead? Yes. Sir Lloyd Geering died on November 5, 2026, at age 108.
Cause of death: Sir Lloyd Geering's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Sir Lloyd Geering known for?
He was a New Zealand theologian.
More about Sir Lloyd Geering
Born: 26 February 1918.
Place of birth: Rangiora.
Gender: male.
Occupation: academic, theologian, philosopher, philosopher of religion.
Nationality: New Zealand.
Education: University of Otago.
Employer: Victoria University of Wellington, Australian National University.
Awards: Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, Order of New Zealand, Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, honorary doctor of the University of Otago.
Also known as: Sir Lloyd George Geering, Lloyd George Geering, Sir Lloyd Geering, Lloyd G Geering.
Known for: 1967 charges of heresy.
Sir Lloyd Geering, the New Zealand theologian who faced charges of heresy, died November 5, 2026, aged 108.
Born in Rangiora on February 26, 1918, he was brought up in Dunedin and spent four years with his family in Australia before returning to New Zealand. He attended Otago Boys’ High School from 1931 to 1935, where he was dux in his final year, and entered the University of Otago in 1936 to study mathematics.
In 1937, after a friend invited him to church and the Student Christian Movement, he embraced the Christian tradition; he later applied to study for the ministry at Knox College and was accepted. His 1967 charges of heresy followed his teaching that the Bible’s account of Jesus’ death and resurrection was not true. He also described Christian and Muslim fundamentalism as “social evils.” Geering held academic appointments at Victoria University of Wellington and the Australian National University, and was emeritus professor of religious studies at Victoria. In 2007, he was appointed a Member of the Order of New Zealand, the country’s highest civilian honour, limited to 20 living people. From September 17, 2025, until his death, he was New Zealand’s oldest living man.